87-Year-Old Man Sentenced To 20 Years’ Hard Labour For Sexually Abusing Child In Ghana

The Ghanaian Police Service has secured a 20-year prison sentence with hard labour for an 87-year-old man, Yaw Gahornu, after he was convicted of defiling a nine-year-old girl in Ofankor, a suburb of Accra.

According to preliminary police investigations, the case came to light on August 29, 2026, when the child’s mother returned from work and noticed stains on her daughter’s clothing.

After questioning the girl, she reportedly disclosed that Gahornu had subjected her to repeated sexual abuse between July and August 2026.

Further investigations reportedly revealed that the accused had allegedly lured the child into his sleeping quarters and threatened to kill her if she told her mother about the abuse.

Gahornu was subsequently charged and arraigned before the Gender-Based Violence Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) headquarters.

Following the court proceedings, he was found guilty of the offence and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the conviction highlights the importance of protecting children from sexual abuse and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable through the justice system.